Casas Particulares

One block northeast of Plaza de la Revolución and handy for services at the Hotel Guantánamo, Casa Doña Mimi (Ahogados #3106, e/ 14 y 15 Norte, Rpto. Caribe, tel. 021/38-4161, CUC20) is good value. This modern bungalow has one cool, spacious room with local TV and large hot-water bathroom, plus secure parking.

Although it’s on the outskirts of town, my favorite place is Casa de Norland Pérez (Carretera de Santa María #301, esq. 7 Norte, Rpto. Rí Guaso, tel. 021/32-1532, CUC20–25), the 1953 modernist home of accomplished artist Miguel Ulria Noa and his equally gifted son Yismichael. Two identical bedrooms have TVs and fridges (and street noise). A thatched restaurant and game room were being built in the patio garden.

Downtown there are half a dozen options. Villa Reve (Pedro Pérez #670A, e/ Paseo y Narcisco López, tel. 021/32-2159, reve [at] infosol [dot] gtm [dot] sld [dot] cu, CUC15–20) is a colonial home with airy patio and eight rooms to choose from. Interior rooms downstairs are gloomy. Upstairs rooms are well lit and cross-ventilated, and have modern bathrooms.

Worthy and similar alternatives include Casa de Osmaida Blanca (Pedro Pérez #664, e/ Paseo y Narciso López, tel. 021/32-5193, CUC15–20), with a splendid rooftop terrace with bar; Casa de Elsye Castillo Osoria (Calixto García #766, e/ Prado y Jesús del Sol, tel. 021/32-3787, CUC20); and Casa Señor Campos (Calixto García #718 e/ Jesús del Sol y Nico López, tel. 5290-0847, CUC20).

Hotels

Islazul’s Villa Turística La Lupe (tel. 021/38-2602, recepcion [at] lupegtm [dot] co [dot] cu, CUC15 s, CUC20 d year-round), four kilometers north of town on the banks of the Río Bano, draws Cubans to the noisy poolside bar on weekends. It has 50 lovely rooms with modern bathrooms in two-story units.

In town, Islazul’s Hotel Guantánamo (Calle 13, e/ Ahogado y Oeste, tel. 021/38-1015, fax 021/38-2406, jrecephotel [at] hotelgtmo [dot] cu [dot] cu, CUC15 s, CUC20 d year-round) has simpler, no-frills rooms with modern bathrooms, plus most services you could want, from disco to car rental.

© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Cuba, 5th Edition